The laughter was not 100 percent at Trump’s expense. Some in the audience seemed to genuinely appreciate his quip about being surprised at the response. But the whole thing clearly started with audibly expressed skepticism about one of Trump’s more hyperbolic and fabulist claims. It was, at its core, about Trump making a ridiculous claim.

The fact that world leaders laughed is kind of funny and frivolous. But it is worth emphasizing the sensitive diplomatic setting in which this occurred. There are cameras in the room that are recording all of this. They caught the German delegation laughing at Trump. The leaders have to know such reactions could be recorded or observed — and possibly even used against them by Trump. They did it anyway.

It is exactly, in fact, the kind of thing Trump once said should be unacceptable for a U.S. president.

We need a President who isn't a laughing stock to the entire World. We need a truly great leader, a genius at strategy and winning. Respect!

Another update: Trump claims (rather implausibly) that this was *intended* to elicit laughter. Except that he has said a version of it dozens of times, clearly not for laughs. And except that he said, after the laughs began, “I didn’t expect that reaction.”

Trump on laughter at UN during speech: “Oh it was great. Well that was meant to get some laughter, but it was great.”